St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-11-10
MISCELLANY.
THE FIRST JENNY LIND TICKET
p 4. BGrTauDs in Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Whan I annaned fanny Lind To

that | contracted to pay her was so
enormous for those times that most
persons thought it would effect my
financial ruin. But I knew l had the
best attraction of the kind in the
world at that time; and as the people
would find that out as soon as they
heard her sing, my first endeavor was
to contrive to get them to attend her
earliest concerts. To this end | adopt
ed every conceivable plan that L
thought best calculated to stir up the
whole country into wild excitement
before the "Swedish Nightingale"
"the Divine Jennie" should set foot
upon our shores.
| knew that the fabulous sums of
money that was to pay for her dulcet
notes would of itself be big adver-
tisement; that people would begin to
wonder what the price of tickets would
have to be in order even to reimburse
me that many would fear they would
not be able to pay the price charged,
etc.
This was exactly the state of public
feeling a week before her arrival,
when | announced that, in order to
give all DESTROYS to hear Jenny Lind
an equal chance, the tickets would be
sold at public auction, starting at the
nominal price of three dollars per tick
ct. 1t was acknowledged that this
plan was fair, but the wonder grew as
to how many times the "nOminal price,
the choice seats would bring in this
public competition. All over the Unit
ed States, and indeed Europe, the ex-
cited people were waiting for the news
on this point which would reach them
as soon as possible after the sale.
For ten days preceding the auction
the newspapers were full of predic-
tions regarding the price of tickets.
Every body wanted to attend the first
concert, and orders from all parts of
the country were sent to friends In
New York to secure tickets, If they
could be bought at prices that were
not utterly fabulous.
l clearly foresaw what effect this
auction sale of Jenny Lind tickets
would necessarily have in the existing
excited state of the public mind and
that the higher the prices obtained,
the more would the frenzy be increas
ed. Therefore, three days before the
auction of concert tickets was to come
off, | went quietly to John G. Genin, a
popular hat maker, and told him L had
a secret business suggestion to lmpart,
which, if shrewdly managed, would, as
believed, help him thousands of dol
lars as an advertisement.
"What is it 2" eagerly asked Mr..
Genin.
"Bid off the first Jenny Lind tick
et," | replied; "and the higher the
price paid, the greater the renOwn it
will give you all over the country
within twenty -four hours after it's pur-
chase"
Genin, who was a good advertiser,
instantly saw his opportunity, and
Selling my hand with an air of delight,
he eagerly exclaimed, "Barnum, you
have made my fortune. This is but
one chance in lifetime. | will buy
the first Jenny Lind ticket, but | will
not mention it. even to my wife, till
have secured it."
On reflection | feared that this bril-
liant idea might not strike anybody
else, and consequently the bidding
would not run very high, but as
knew that any business man who
bought the first ticket would be great
gamer thereby, quietly called on DIR.
Brandreth, the great pill maker, and a
private interview. The doctor invited
me into his office, and locking the
door, pointed to an easy arm chair,
and then said, in a low voice:
"Friend Barnum, what is up ="
GA mighty big thing for YOU" L re-
piled, ''if you will keep 1T profound
secret for three days"
The DOCTORS eyes sparkled with de-
light as he squeezed my hand and said,
"My dear Barnum, | pledge my honor
not to divulge it to living being till
you say the word"
"Buy the first Jenny Lind ticket at
auction, even if you pay high for it, ,
| replied, "and let every newspaper in
America and Europe announce that
DR.. Brandreth, Jr., the maker of the
celebrated 'Brandreth's Pills. secured
the first Jenny Lind ticket at fifty or IL
hundred dollars, as the case may be-"
The Doctor smiled and replied :
"Pretty good, Barnum, especially for
you, if you can sell ticket at that
rate"
was surprised at the calmness OF
this remark, and said: ayes, Doctor,
it may be good for me, but that doesn't
prevent its being Il successful stroke of
policy for YOU"
The Doctor gave me a sly wink, and
merely remarked, "Barnum we all
know you have fertile brain and
don't miss any chance to feather your
nest. Your foresight is remarkable
and gener ally quite profitable"
Nettled at the Doctors temporary
Obtuseness, | replied:
"Dr. Brandreth, have long admir-
ed your ingenious methods of adver-
Using 'Brandreth's Pills. but if you
can't see the value to your business of
my suggestion, | beg to say you will
surely regret it when that first Jenny
Lind ticket falls into other hands,"
The Doctor was SO strongly impress
ed that my idea was purely selfish one
that several minutes elapsed before he
began to see that, notwithstanding L
should be benefited by the proposed
plan, it would not prevent him from
reaping a harvest at the same time.
He then said 81 thank you for the
hint, Mr.. Barnum. Perhaps twenty or
thirty dollars expended for the first
ticket would not be bad investment !;
so | will send my cashier to the auc-
ton, with instructions to make lib
eral bid"
Bidding the Doctor goodbye, L
walked down Broadway, feeling that
my plans had put two worthy and am
bilious gentlemen into frame of mind
that would result in greater eclat for
the Jenny Lind enterprise.
On Saturday, Sept mber z, 1850,
three thousand anxious persons enter
ed Castle Garden, New York, to attend
the sale of the Jenny Lind tickets,